Portable condensing and heating apparatus



May 1, 1934. H. E. BYER PORTABLE CONDENSING AND HEATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 23, 1930 INVENTOR. Henry E Byer A TTORNEY.

Patented May 1, 1934 UNITED STATES PATET FFECE PQRTABLE CONDENSING AND HEATING APPARATUS Application September 23, 1930, Serial No. 483,810

2 (Jlaims.

This invention relates to condensers for steam and other vapor-laden gases, and more particularly to counter-current condensers of the open type, i. e., operating under atmospheric pressure,

5 which are extensively used as feed water heaters.

In such heaters all gases resulting from the mixing process of steam and Water are vented to the atmosphere.

I All existing desi ns of such atmospheric condensers or water heaters require large bulky construction and involve an excessive pressure drop between the steam inlet and the vent pipe at the top. The latter produces back pressure on the system. Such defects in atmospheric condensers,

' 1,} as heretofore constructed, are due to the fact that the means provided for bringing the condensing water in contact with the steam or other vaporladen gases are improperly arranged. I have found in commercial practice that these defects are efiectively overcome by presenting a vertical film, or sheet of water, to the entering steam or vapor with a substantially unbroken fall and by employing the means for forming a divided sheet of water across the casing of the condenser in front of the steam or vapor inlet, as described in my prior Patent No. 1,581,098, issued April 20, 1926.

One object of the present invention is to provide means for saving fuel and Water in connection with steam engines or other apparatus which discharge steam or vapor-laden gases, especially when the latter are semi-portable or portable. Another object is to develop for that purpose an atmospheric condenser of the counter-current type which will remedy the defects of other existing types by affording a maximum of surface area for contact with the steam without creating undue back pressure in the steam or gas line and at the same time to keep the diameter and length of the condenser within the limits of commercial requirements and which will be fully portable or semi-portable. Other objects will be apparent from the detailed description which follows.

The above objects are accomplished by constructing the atmospheric condenser as a separate vessel with its bottom end submerged in a hot-well tank, the latter open to the atmosphere. The condenser proper is supported on said hot-well tank by suitable means and in such manner as to always have the pressure of the atmosphere on the surface of the water in said hot-well tank.

This construction differs from any type of atnTospheric condenser or feed water heater heretofore constructed since prior designs incorporate the condensing means and hot well in one vessel, i. e., the hot well is not open to the atmosphere but subjected to the same pressure as exists in the condenser proper. Such constructions require a system of float valves, drains and automatic safety control devices to prevent the water in the hot well from rising. Should the water removal pump cease to function, there is danger of flooding the steam exhaust of gas pipe, and in that way damaging the apparatus to which the heater is attached.

By having the atmospheric condenser rest on a hot well tank open to the atmosphere, absolute safety to the apparatus discharging exhaust steam or gases into the condenser is assured under all conditions, for if the water removal means should cease to function, the Water would merely spill over the top of the tank. The overflow could be led to a suitable reservoir or sewer or allowed to spill on the ground.

For the class of work where the atmospheric condenser and the apparatus it serves are portable or semi-portable, the amount of cold raw Water being admitted can be readily controlled by hand adjustment. The construction on cases, therefore, provides for the complete absence of float valve mechanism, removable plates on the interior, or any sort of mechanism which would have to be disassembled and reassembled upon moving the apparatus from one site to another. So In other words as a portable atmospheric condenser the construction is ideal in that it provides for the greatest possible simplicity of interior and complete and total absence of valve controlling floats and heavy bulky parts for removal and reassembling. However, the apparatus is readily adaptable to automatic regulation of the cold water supply, if such an arrangement is desired or required. In such cases a slim ple float control operated by variations in the water level in the hot well tank may be provided.

In order to illustrate the invention concrete embodiments thereof are shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical central sectional view of my improved atmospheric condenser:

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig 3 is a vertical central sectional view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modification.

Referring in detail to the accompanying drawing the condenser comprises a casing or shell 4, preferably cylindrical, and having a water inlet pipe 5 extending therethrough at one side near the top thereof, and a steam inlet 6 at one side and below the water inlet. An air or gas suction outlet 7 is arranged in the top of the casing or shell from which extends a vent pipe 8 of suitable size and length. The lower end of casing 4 extends Within the open end of a hot-well tank 9 and the bottom of the casing is disposed near the bottom of the tank and is open for the hot water discharge. Hot-well tank 9 serves as the base for the condenser and supports casing 1 by means of a series of brackets 10. A discharge connection for the hot-well is provided at 11.

Within casing 4 and adjacent the water inlet is a weir 12 forming a reservoir 13 for the incoming water. Beneath the weir and above the steam or gas inlet is a diaphragm 14 which is preferably semicircular and closes one-half of the area of the casing or shell. It serves to divide the interior of casing 4 into a steam space or chamber below and an air-cooling or gas cooling space above. In the space above the diaphragm are two bafiles 15, preferably dome-shaped and having one-half their area overlying the diaphragm and the other half projecting beyond the straight side of said diaphragm. Other bailies may be provided at 16 and 17. These baiiles may be supported in any suitable manner in casing 4.

By preference the straight or free edge of diaphragm 14 has an upwardly extending centrally disposed projection or lip 14a arranged to divide the sheet of water falling from the diaphragm into two portions separated by a central open space substantially the width of the lip, which space is directly in front of the steam inlet 6 after the manner disclosed in my aforesaid Patent No. 1,581,698. Consequently the fiow of the water and its connection upon the incoming steam conforms to the disclosure of the said patent.

In the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 the valve 18 for the raw or cold water supply is arranged for manual control, the handle extension 19 being provided for the convenience of the operator.

The modification shown in Fig. 3 is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in all respects save that the cold water feed is automatically controlled in response to variations in the water level in the hot well and the only changes are those necessary to take care of the automatic control. Hot well tank 9a has an enlargement or bulge 9b beneath valve 18a of the cold water inlet. In the enlarged space provided by bulge 9b between the adjacent walls of casing 4 and tank 9a is disposed a float 20 connected by a rod 21 to one end of a lever 22, the central portion of which is attached to valve stem 23 and the other end of which is fulcrumed on a post 24.

Being of simple, rugged, and compact construction, condensers according to the disclosure herein are readily portable and particularly adaptable for use on temporary locations as in oil well drilling. To put the condenser in use it is only necessary to connect the engine exhaust to the steam inlet 6 of condenser casing 4, to connect water inlet 5 to a supply of raw or cold water, and to connect hot well discharge 11 to the feed pump of the engine. The cold water supply may be manually adjusted as illustrated in Fig. l or arranged for automatic operation as shown in Fig. 3, but no damage will be done in the event of an excess supply of cold water since it will merely fill the hot Well and spill over the top of hot well tank 9 or 9a, the latter being freely open to atmosphere.

That the present invention embodies the fea tures of small size, compactness, and portability will be apparent from the dimensions of an installation for a. 300 h. p. engine, namely, a condenser casing 18 inches in diameter and 12 feet long, a hot well tank 24 inches in diameter and 5 feet high, making the overall height 14 feet and extreme diameter 24 inches.

While the invention has been herein disclosed in what are now considered to be preferred forms, it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to the specific details thereof but covers all changes, modifications, and adaptations within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A portable counter-current condenser comprising a hot well tank forming a base and having an open top, and a condenser casing in spaced telescoping relation with said tank through said open top, said condenser casing having a closed top save for a small vent, a steam inlet adjacent said tank, a water inlet intermediate said steam inlet and said vent, a water chamber in communication with the water inlet, said water chamber having an opening for permitting the steam and water to pass therethrough in opposite directions.

2. A portable counter-current condenser comprising two cylindrical members open at one end and of diiierent diameter, the member of larger diameter forming the base of the condenser and having a discharge opening in its side intermediate the ends thereof, said smaller member being supported by said larger member with the open end or" the former telescoped within the open end of the latter and disposed intermediate the closed end of the former and the discharge opening therein, said smaller member having a steam opening adjacent to but above said larger member, a water inlet above said steam opening, a restricted vent in its closed top, and means for distributing the water in sheets between said water inlet and said steam inlet, said means including a chamber having a passageway for permitting the steam and water to pass therethrough in opposite directions.

HENRY E. BYER. 

